Abstract: The implant has at least one contact surface portion, made of pyrolytic carbon, designed to be in mobile contact with at least one bony surface when the implant is implanted in a patient. Furthermore, the implant is free from any attaching means, so that it remains free with respect to the at least one bony surface when implanted in the patient.

Abstract: A prosthesis for treating ailments of the scaphoid consists of an implant shaped and sized to serve as a partial replacement of the scaphoid. The prosthesis consists of an element made of a material whose Young's modulus is approximately in the range 10-35 GPa, such as pyrolytic carbon, and having an external surface with a first curved portion having a small radius of curvature corresponding to the conjugated profile of the scaphoid between the head of the capitate and the radius, and a second curved portion having a large radius of curvature corresponding to the profile of the scaphoid facing the radius. Preferably, the partial scaphoid implant is elliptical in each of three mutually perpendicular planes. A method for treating ailments of the scaphoid consists in the surgical removal of a proximal portion of the scaphoid, while leaving the distal fragment thereof in place, and replacing the removed fragment by a prosthesis as described above.

Abstract: An activating system is provided for a heart valve having a seat (1) and at least one pivoting flap (2a, 2b) mounted on the seat (1). The activating system includes at least one mobile magnetic element (4) connected with said flap (2a, 2b) and at least one fixed magnetic element (3) on the seat (1), with the magnetic elements (3, 4) producing interacting fields that create a force which is exerted on said flap (2a, 2b) during its opening and/or closing movements.